Method and apparatus for traffic light state alerts

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to receive a wireless light-state notification as a vehicle approaches a traffic light. The processor is also configured to determine an appropriate vehicle action based on at least the light-state, a vehicle speed and a vehicle proximity to the traffic light and recommend the appropriate action to the vehicle driver.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a processor configured to: 
 receive a wireless light-state notification, identifying a current light-state, from another vehicle broadcasting the light-state notification wirelessly, as a first vehicle approaches a traffic light; 
 determine an appropriate vehicle action for the first vehicle, based on at least the light-state, a first vehicle speed and a first vehicle proximity to the traffic light; and 
 recommend, via an output of the first vehicle, the appropriate vehicle action to a driver of the first vehicle. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the appropriate action includes slowing the first vehicle if the light-state is red. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the appropriate action includes maintaining a present speed if the light-state is green. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the light-state includes time-to-change data, and the processor is further configured to determine a light-state when the first vehicle reaches the traffic light. 
     
     
       5. A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, via a first vehicle transceiver, a wireless light-state notification, identifying a current light-state, from another vehicle broadcasting the light-state notification wirelessly, as a first vehicle approaches a traffic light; 
 determining, via a first vehicle computer, an appropriate vehicle action for the first vehicle, based on at least the light-state, a first vehicle speed and a first vehicle proximity to the traffic light; and 
 recommending, via an output of the first vehicle, the appropriate vehicle action to a driver of the first vehicle. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the appropriate action includes slowing the first vehicle if the light-state is red. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the appropriate action includes maintaining a present speed if the light-state is green. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the light-state includes time-to-change data, and the method further includes determining a light-state when the first vehicle reaches the traffic light. 
     
     
       9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
 receiving, via a first vehicle transceiver, a wireless light-state notification, identifying a current light-state, from another vehicle broadcasting the light-state notification wirelessly, as a first vehicle approaches a traffic light; 
 determining, via a first vehicle computer, an appropriate vehicle action for the first vehicle, based on at least the light-state, a first vehicle speed and a first vehicle proximity to the traffic light; and 
 recommending, via an output of the first vehicle, the appropriate vehicle action to a driver of the first vehicle. 
 
     
     
       10. The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the appropriate action includes slowing the first vehicle if the light-state is red. 
     
     
       11. The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the appropriate action includes maintaining a present speed if the light-state is green. 
     
     
       12. The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the light-state includes time-to-change data, and the method further includes determining a light-state when the first vehicle reaches the traffic light.